Hit by stray cattle, city resident dies

Bathinda, July 15

Stray cattle took one more life in the city. Baljinder Kumar (45), a resident of Baba Deep Singh Nagar, succumbed to his injuries after he was hit by stray cattle on Saturday at the Dabwali road.

As per information, Baljinder Kumar, along with Satguru Singh (48), were going on a motorcycle when their vehicle was hit by stray cattle near Giani Zail Singh College.

Baljinder Kumar died on Saturday night while Satguru is seriously injured and is undergoing treatment at Max Hospital.

Stray cattle roaming around the city has become a serious problem. The situation turns worse at night when it becomes difficult for drivers to spot the animals.

The Municipal Corporation of Bathinda is the first in the state to levy cow cess with an aim to check the problem of stray cattle menace.

The major reason behind the problem is the location of dairies in and around the city as owners, after milking their cattle, set them free to graze in the green belts. Non-lactating cattle are abandoned.

The MCB faces several issues in dealing with the menace as it lacks trained men to capture the animals and load them in trucks.

Secondly, there is a lack of gaushalas (cow sheds) with adequate space. The third reason is the tendency of the authorities of neighbouring towns and areas to catch their stray cattle and leave near the city. — TNS